For Sunday 22nd March 2026, Fifth Sunday of Lent

Friends,

Earlier this month, I wrote about the group meeting in the Lower Hall breaking fast, sharing the prayers and iftar meal that marks the season of Ramadan. Prayer, food, new friendships and community – linking and sustaining people.

On Sunday we anticipate another example of the soul-food combo. We welcome over one hundred and fifty members of the Aburi Old Girls’ Association U.K., as they join us for worship and then invite us to join them for lunch in the Lower Hall. (A mouth-watering menu promises Ghanaian favourites – jollof rice, fried plantain and grilled chicken, as well as mention of English roast and crumble and custard.) The day is the annual Thanksgiving for the alumnae association. Aburi’s school motto is “Bepow So Hann”, meaning “Light on the Hill” – it reflects the school’s location on the Akuapem mountains and its goal to be a guiding beacon of excellence. Their website explains: “It signifies shining brightly as a light for others, a core value for the school and its alumnae.” https://aburigirls.edu.gh/#

While highlighting some special, “one-off moments” of St Columba’s life, we also remember that we are in our own season of Lenten spiritual reflection, preparing for Holy Week and Easter. For some it has been participating in Lent book study discussions – for others, alternative ways of intentionally marking this time of the Christian year – reading, praying, giving something up, or taking something up. One avenue available to us is to support the work of the Arukah Network, our selected Lent Appeal charity.

Arukah Network’s mission is to support some of the poorest communities in Sub-Saharan Africa and India to improve their physical and mental health, wellbeing and education. It does this by empowering, encouraging, coaching, resourcing & training ‘Clusters’ to work out solutions from within, using their inherent gifts and skills. Local community leaders pledge to work in friendship and collaboration to address the needs of their community; together, able to take on larger, regional challenges, impossible to handle alone. There are currently fourteen Clusters in northern India and sub-Saharan Africa. Surely “lights on their own hills.”
Angus

THIS SUNDAY: Sunday 22nd March 2026 We will be joined by members of the Aburi Old Girls’ Association (AOGA). Aburi Girls’ Senior High School (ABUGISS), is a renowned boarding school in Ghana, established in 1946. Alumni members will be involved in leading worship and offering hospitality after service. Dr. Gertrude Dzirasa-Payne is the visiting preacher and the Association President Judith Zormelo will also speak during service. A time of informal worship led by the Association will begin at 10.30am, before the morning service starts formally at 11.00am. Livestream from 10.30am. The Association are very kindly providing lunch for all attendees from 12.30pm onwards – menu including both Ghanaian and UK dishes. The Association have previously met annually at Crown Court, but numbers have outgrown the space and facilities. We look forward to welcoming our visitors for what we anticipate will be a happy, holy and lively day at St Columba’s.

Lent Appeal 2026 – Arukah Network. Registered charity 1162564

https://www.arukahnetwork.org/
The charity was founded by Dr Ted Lankester in 2004, Co-Founder and Custodian, while working and living in the Indian Himalayas. Ted saw the need to bring small organisations together to collaborate effectively and he set up the Cluster approach. Clusters work together to empower communities and local organisations to work together in friendship and collaboration to help solve problems and improve local services and the lives of others. Each Cluster identifies its own priorities and the Arukah Network works alongside them and advises on coaching, training, information, social media, podcasts, blogs etc.

This year’s Lent Appeal – donations will be used for:

1. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as many people are in desperate need of emergency disaster/survival funds. The Arukah Network already have one Cluster group and are forming a second. The emergency supplies are the basics to help people survive, basic food, shelter, clothing.
2. Seed Fund: Available to Clusters in any of the countries that the charity works with. Primarily they do the training first and the Cluster can apply for financial help, funding to help people get started e.g. chicken or pig farm.

To hear about the Arukah Network, speakers during the morning service on:
Sunday 15 February: Donald Johnston (from Mission Committee).
Sunday 29 March (Palm Sunday): Dr Ted Lankester, Co-Founder and Custodian, Arukah Network.

For donations: a) White Lent Appeal envelopes will be available in the pews (Gift Aid if you are eligible).
b) For any contactless payments on the card machine in Upper Vestibule, please also complete a white Lent Appeal envelope, giving your details (+ gift aid if eligible) and make a note on the envelope that you have made a contactless payment for £…..amount. We can then link the payment specifically to the Lent Appeal.
c) For bank transfers direct to the St. Columba’s Church bank account, please use the payment reference as Lent Appeal. Any cheques sent by post via Church Office, cheque made payable to St. Columba’s Church but please add a note on it saying Lent Appeal.

Lent Book Discussion Group. Rooted in biblical accounts and historical insight, Notes on an Execution, written by Rhidian Brook brings fresh life to a story that has shaped the world for two thousand years. Meetings are via zoom. Sign up via church office either for Wednesdays at 7.30pm or Fridays at 10am.

Presbytery Lent Bible Study There is an additional group discussion opportunity offered by the Presbytery of England & the Channel Islands Training and Development Committee. A warm invitation is extended across the Presbytery to join. Come to one or come all of the Thursday evening Zoom sessions
7.00 – 7.30pm, from 19th February – 26th March. To register, contact Revd Carolann Birnie Cbirnie@churchofscotland.org.uk

Easter Lilies
The Flower Guild would like to offer the opportunity to remember a loved one this Easter. You can purchase one or more lilies costing £4 each which will then be used to decorate the church on Easter Sunday. There will be a list of the names of those remembered in the Church on Easter Sunday. Please put cash or cheques in an envelope clearly marked with the name of the person you wish to remember and hand it in to the office or give it to Patricia Clarke or Kate Payne. You can do this anytime up to Sunday 29th March.

UPCOMING: ORA Singers at St Columba’s Church, Tuesday 31st March at 7pm.
Celebrate Holy Week with the award-winning ORA Singers on 31st March as they perform Tomás Luis de Victoria‘s Requiem of 1605 – one of the most powerful works ever written for voices, widely regarded as the Spanish composers’ towering achievement before his death in 1611.
Tickets can be purchased by clicking: ORA Singers: Victoria Requiem | ORA Singers Website and members of the congregation can get 20% discount by entering code STCOLUMBASREQUIEM

The London St Andrew’s Book Festival, presented by Scots in London, 17th – 22nd November 2026

The London St Andrew’s Book Festival, presented by Scots in London is delighted to announce that it will be returning on 17 – 22 November 2026, offering a week-long celebration of Scottish writers and culture in the heart of London. Expect international bestselling authors, moving live poetry and rising debut stars. Please put the dates in your diaries, more details will be coming soon. With best wishes, The London St Andrew’s Book Festival team.